Hairy-legged Mining Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) – Bursted decline but second colony found

A nest count for the Hairy-legged Mining Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes), uncommon in London, made by Bursted Woods this year, suggests a decline in numbers. The colony, which has been the only one known in Bexley, appears from an old photograph to have been present on the Erith Road verge here since around 1965. Some 995 nests were counted on 6/8/15, 610 on 8/8/16 and only around 457 (though a very rough and ready assessment) on 1/8/17. The grass in the nesting area was far more rank this year due to the interplay between the Council mowing regime and the damper conditions of late, which won’t have helped and cool conditions earlier in the year may have had an impact. 

However, on 8/8/17 I found a series of raised, south-facing, groups of adjoining front gardens on Eversley Avenue, Barnehurst to be occupied by the Bee, and one on the other side of the road, covering 10 properties in all. I didn’t have time for a proper count, only tallying some 256, but there were a lot more in reality. This is another illustration of the value of front gardens for wildlife, and why they shouldn’t be paved over for car parking!   

As a matter of interest, the two colonies are 790 metres apart as the Crow flies.

Hairy-legged Mining Bee pokes its head out of its nest by Bursted Woods, 11/8/17. (Photo: Chris Rose)

Female ‘paddling’ backwards to push more sand out of and away from the nest hole. (Photo: Chris Rose)

 

Chris Rose

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2 Responses to Hairy-legged Mining Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) – Bursted decline but second colony found

  1. Michael Jumpp says:

    Hello,

    Hope all is well
    I do not no if you can help me I have a garage completely covered by Ivy & I believe there is a bee hive somewhere within the Ivy as there swamps of bees surrounding the ivy, can you help ???

    Many Thanks,

    Kind Regards Michael

    Contact details:

    07940354013
    Micjum@aol.co.uk

    Address:
    49 Rydal Drive
    Bexleyheath
    Kent
    DA7 5EF

    • Chris Rose says:

      Dear Michael, Bees are rarely dangerous, so would it be possible to leave them? They may not nest there next year. Ivy itself is very valuable for pollinators if allowed to flower, including the Ivy Bee, which is a recent UK colonist, but not on the wing yet. Otherwise, I suggest you contact Ruxley Beekeepers. They have people who can remove swarms from people’s gardens. Although their main focus is Honey Bees, but they should be able to advise if yours are a different species. See: http://ruxleybeekeepers.org.uk/index.php/swarms/ Yours, Chris Rose

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